Tunisian diplomat kidnapped in Libyan capital

TUNIS, March 22 (Xinhua) -- A Tunisian diplomat has been kidnapped by a group of unknown gunmen in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, the Tunisian Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

The ministry said in a statement that it received information from Libyan authorities about the kidnapping of a Tunisian diplomat on Friday.

The ministry and Tunisian presidency have held talks with Libyan authorities, urging Libyan officials to take necessary efforts to release the kidnapped diplomat. They also expressed concerns over safety of the Tunisian diplomatic mission in Libya.

Three years after Libya's Muammar Gaddafi was toppled, the North African country is struggling to restore security despite militants refute the central government's authority.

Foreigners are frequently kidnapped in the country since the beginning of this year, though most of them were freed unharmed.